ROUND nine of the British Superbike Championship saw Evesham-based team Jones Dorling Racing travel to Cheshire’s Oulton Park circuit to compete in the Superstock support series.
The four-rider team ended the practice sessions with a good feeling with Ben Godfrey and Jordan Weaving on the Suzuki 1000s in P6 and P17 respectively. Yamaha 600 racers Cameron Fraser and Worcester’s Ewan Potter were 11th and 15th.
Both sets of riders had two races, with qualifying on Saturday in readiness for the first races later that day. In a very packed schedule, Fraser knocked 0.5 seconds off his lap time in qualifying in 13th, with Potter 21st.
The 12-lap sprint race saw Fraser drop to 16th in the opening laps but then both riders fought for positions and battled back up the field to cross the line with Fraser 12th and Potter 18th, knowing their improved lap times would determine grid positions for Sunday’s race.
Their second race was a harder battle and had Fraser finishing in 14th to collect championship points and Potter 23rd.
Godfrey and Weaving’s first race was an epic battle, with the the second pack of racers in a tussle for the whole 12 laps, worthy of a Moto 3 race!
They fought hard to get to the front of the second pack, with Godfrey crossing the line in 12th and Weaving in a very strong eighth as both secured points.
Sunday’s race had grid positions determined from race one, with both JDR racers getting good starts off the line in the very competitive field.
Weaving had moved into seventh position but another rider’s crash meant the safety car came out on lap four and all riders had to hold their positions.
Unfortunately Godfrey had a technical issue and had to retire on lap ten. However, Weaving had already improved his previous day’s lap time by a second and continued to push, but frustratingly just got beaten to a place as he crossed the line eighth.
He gained further points and ended the weekend with his two best race results this season so far. Follow the team’s progress at www.jonesdorlingracing.co.uk.
Words and pictures by Neil Gandy.
